I miss Abu Dhabi :( SULK!

I miss Abu Dhabi. :( SULK!

http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/

Happy Deepavali :-) (Festival of lights)

While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Kourosh Yaghmaei (Havar Havar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fNW8OrEsn0

Anthony Hopkins

Now, that's my hero!

Robert Redford

Now, that's my hero!

106.2 HUM FM

http://www.humfm.com/2005/live.asp

Dervish

The Persian word also gives terms for "ascetic" in some languages, as in the Urdu phrase darveshaneh tabi'at, "an unflappable or ascetic temperament".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish

MUSHARRAF ALI FAROOQI

MUSHARRAF ALI FAROOQI is an author, novelist and translator. He was born in 1968 in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and now divides his time between Toronto, New York and Karachi. His novel The Story of a Widow (Knopf Canada/Picador India) was shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2010. It was earlier longlisted for the 2010 IMPAC-Dublin Literary Award. His children's fiction includes the picture book The Cobbler's Holiday Or Why Ants Don't Wear Shoes (2008, A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press) and the collection The Amazing Moustaches of Mocchhander the Iron Man and Other Stories (2011, Puffin India). He is the author of the critically acclaimed translations of Urdu classics, The Adventures of Amir Hamza (2007, Modern Library), and the first book of a projected 24-volume magical fantasy epic, Hoshruba (2009, Urdu Project/Random House India). He also writes a political satire column titled The Goat Spy Letters for The Express Tribune. His latest novel, Between Clay and Dust, will be published in South Asia by David Davidar of Aleph Book Company in April 2012.

http://www.mafarooqi.com/index.html

Dennis Ritchie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ritchie

http://www.gridrepublic.org

GridRepublic members run a screensaver that allows their computers to work on public-interest research projects when the machines are not otherwise in use. This screensaver does not affect performance of the host computer any more than an ordinary screensaver does.

By aggregating idle resources from users around the world, we create a massive supercomputer.

Jetsun Pema

Jetsun Pema

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetsun_Pema

My Comments: Kenny G

Kenny G is a topnotch musician, songwriter, record producer, pilot and golfer. People achieve so much . . . .

Kenny G

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_G

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=447yaU_4DF8&feature=related

Where the mind is without fear / Rabindranath Tagore

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-- Rabindranath Tagore

I'm Gandhian . . . .

I'm a nonviolent person. I'm Gandhian. Believe in Truth and Nonviolence. And, like Jains I believe in nonviolence toward all living creatures.

Now, That's Poetry! :-)

Poet - Lyricist: Santosh Anand

This "couplet" isn't there in the song:

dekh li khwaab ki har gali
mayray dil ko mila na suku
tayray bin kaisay jiwan jiya
tu milay tow tujhi say kahu
baywajah umr dhooni padi
pyar kar lay ghadi do ghadi

Functional Schizoid

I'm Functional Schizoid! :-)

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

Once in a long while is born a man whose efforts change the face of reality, whose conviction forces destiny to rewrite itself, whose genius has an impact across centuries. To state that Pandit Shivkumar Sharma has created history in the world of music, is an understatement, an inadequate attempt to capture the maestro’s achievements and contributions. After all how many musicians can boast of single handedly bringing forth an obscure, almost unknown instrument to the level of being “indispensable” on the concert platform! Musicians and their instruments do become synonyms, but how often does an instrument acquire an identity because of a musician!

Santoor, which was used in Soofi music in the valley of Kashmir, owes its classical status to Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. In the early decades of the twentieth century, Santoor or Shata-Tantri Veena as it was called in the ancient times, was used as an accompaniment to a specific type of singing called Sufiana Mausiqi. When Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma, a renowned vocalist from Jammu, and a disciple of Pt. Bade Ramdasji of Benaras spotted it, he was convinced of the potentialities of the instrument. After extensive research on the instrument he bestowed the responsibility of establishing it on the concert platform on his only son Shivkumar. The rest, as they say, is history.

However, the road to success was far from smooth. After several radio broadcasts and performances he appeared for his national level concert in Mumbai in 1955. This was a turning point in his life where he received applause as well as was severely criticized by the orthodox sections of musicians and listeners. Santoor according to them was not a complete instrument on which one could play classical music. Instead of getting disheartened or discouraged, in his characteristic manner he took these criticisms as a challenge. After in-depth research, he made some important modifications on this hundred stringed instrument, like a new chromatic arrangement of notes and increased the range to cover full three octaves. Besides, he also created a new technique of playing with which he could sustain notes and maintain sound continuity. Today Santoor is at par with any classical instrument, well established not just all over India, but across the globe.

With his creative genius, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma has created a new genre of instrumental music. Through his performance career of over a half century, he has created millions of new listeners and ardent fans of Indian classical music. His performances are such a brilliant combination of rich knowledge, perfect skill and abundant spontaneous creativity, that all the sections of listeners feel enriched. Little surprise that his concerts are awaited by connoisseurs, music students, musicians and lay listeners alike.

He believes in the immortality of this great heritage of Indian classical music and wishes to leave no stone unturned to make it so. With this aim in mind, he has been imparting his knowledge to the next generation of musicians. So deep is his conviction that despite no institutional or government support, he has been teaching in the Guru Shishya tradition, without charging a fee from his students, who come to him from all the corners of India as well as different parts of the world like Japan, Germany, Australia and America.

While he never compromises on the purity of music, Pt. Sharma’s open minded approach has resulted in some of the most popular, innovative experimental albums like Call of the Valley, Feelings, Mountains, etc. In fact he is among those rare musicians who have been able to create successfully in the world of film music as well. Now for over forty years Santoor is an indispensable part of Indian film music. His compositions for blockbusters like Silsila, Lamhe, Chandni, Darr, etc. are all time favourites across the country.

Music, he believes, is food for the soul. Naturally, his music is meditative and soothing at the same time. His immense faith in the ancient wisdom of Vedanta has resulted in creation of music for Shlokas from the Upanishads and a new raag called Antardhwani.

Various recording companies from India and overseas have tried to capture Pt. Sharma’s genius for the last forty years. Today he has over 100 recordings to his credit in LPs, CDs, audio cassettes and even DVDs. In fact he is the only classical musician who has agreed to do a music video in order to appeal to the young generation. Naturally, a musician with such a vast spectrum of achievements has a long list of National and International awards conferred upon him like the Honorary Citizen for the City of Baltimore, USA (1985), Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1986), Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990), Honorary Doctorate from the University of Jammu (1991) Padmashree (1991), Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award (1998), and Padma Vibhushan (2001), to name a few. Born in 1938, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, a musician par excellence, a great composer, an understanding, kind guru, a sensitive and aware citizen, this living legend is truly a personification of the Indian ethos and values. The world of music will forever be indebted to him for his incredible contribution.

Young People! :-)

Listen to Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia for a change -- young people! :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuiEN2roPrs&feature=related

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, surprisingly does not come from a long lineage of flautists. His father was a famous wrestler who had aspirations of his son following in his footsteps.

The younger Chaurasia had an early love of music, however, and by the age of 15 was taking his first steps toward a lifetime as a performer by studying classical vocal with Pandit Raja Ram of Benares.

Soon after, he heard a flute recital by Pandit Bholanath and was so impressed he changed his focus to studying the flute. When he was just 19, he got a job playing for All India Radio, Cuttack, Orissa, and within five years he was transferred to their headquarters in Bombay. There he got the additional exposure of performing in one of India's cultural centers and also studied with Shrimati Annapurna Devi, daughter of Ustaad Allauddin Khan of the Maihar School of Music.

There he established the creative peak of his career, developing a style that was respectful of tradition, yet full of innovation. Over a lifetime of performances, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has become one of India's most-respected classical musicians, earning several awards, including the National Award of the Sangeet Natak Academy, which he won in 1984.

In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Konarak Samman. In 1994, he was bestowed the Yash Bharati Sanman and in 2000, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. In the year 2000, he also received the Hafiz Ali Khan Award and the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award. He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Gabarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean Pierre Rampal.

On 1 July, 2008 on the occasion of his 70th Birthday, his official biography "Woodwinds of Change" by Shri Surjit Singh was released by none other than Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Soon after, Panditji was honoured by the Dutch Royal family at a glittering ceremony at Amsterdam. He was conferred the title OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF ORANGE-NASSAU( “officier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau”) and was honored by Princess Maxima herself. Pt. Chaurasia has been teaching Indian music at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory for the past 15 years. He is the Artistic Director of the Indian Music department.

This year shortly after his 71st Birthday he was honored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France. He has been appointed as KNIGHT IN THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTER (“Ordres des Arts et Lettres”) in appreciation for the significant contribution he has made to spread culture in France and the rest of the World.

In August this year, Pt. Chaurasia was awarded the National Eminence award, NADA VIDYA BHARTI by Visakha Music and Dance Academy, Vizag.

On 14 September he was bestowed the Honorary Doctorate by the North Orissa University for his unparelleled role and contribution to the world of Indian Classical Music.

He heads the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory.

He is one of the busiest and most sought-after contemporary musicians in the world today.

He is also a dedicated teacher with several devoted art music students world-wide, many of whom are beginning to make their mark on the concert stage.

Disability

Disability

Disability

Disability

Disability

Disability India Network

You and the Disability India Network

There are many Non Government Organizations working in the sphere of providing facilities and services for persons with disabilities, yet there is no comprehensive data available for the ready reference of professionals and parents seeking access to this information. Even some of us, active in this line of work, have often felt the information gap - where and what is being done across the country? This need has been felt time and again.

To fill this gap, and to provide countrywide support and services to disabled children, their parents and organizations, we have set up the Disability India Network to work as a one-stop portal for disability related issues in India.

The Network is managed by the Society for Child Development, a registered non-governmental national level organization. The Network has a dynamic Register of Services that is free for the use of all - Nationally and internationally. Thus, organizations have the benefit of being accessible to those who require their services within the country, and additionally, have the advantage of being visible to the world outside. Organizations already on the web, with their web sites, have the supplementary convenience of a link, enhancing their site visibility. More than 3000 organizations are already part of this growing database.

An interactive Discussion Board provides a platform for debates on topical issues.

The Disability India Journal is a quarterly e-journal that presents original articles on thematic issues.

YOU and DIN

If you are an Organization: Just click on the link http://www.disabilityindia.org/addorg.cfm and fill out the form. Easy... Your organization is displayed in the database, immediately. And in the process you also have the opportunity of displaying all relevant information on a webpage - FREE of any charge or obligation. If and when you have additional information or correction to be made just write in to the webmaster and the correction will be carried out from the Disability India Network office.

As an individual you have the choice of reading the full text of the various Acts legislated by the parliament; about the national organizations and the work they do; up-to-date news on scientific developments around the world and events happening in India; about an ever growing list of litigations for your reference and information; interesting articles on Issues in Inclusion and much more.

Explore the site! Send in your suggestions for inclusion of more information, and criticism for improvement.

Join hands in our endeavor to make information accessible to ALL.

http://www.disabilityindia.org/

Doordarshan

http://ddnational.blogspot.com/

My Comments: Doordarshan

Those were the good old days: Mono channel -- monochrome telly! Listen to the signature tune -- people. :-)

Doordarshan Signature Tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5uoybpmdIc

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Poverty

Irony

I recently bought sparklers for my kid nieces. The sparklers had this acronymed seal: NCLE (No Child Labor Employed) Ironically--a child was selling 'em.